Chapter 6: Sacred Fire Storm
The morning came very quickly, too quickly for Toushirou to maintain any makeshift model of rest to replenish his waning strength. As a result, he was completely drained, groaning as the birds chirping outside roused him from his restless slumber. He tossed the blankets to the side and swung his legs to place his sock clad feet on the floor. He bent over to rest his elbows on his knees and place his face in his cupped palms as he attempted to rub the fatigue from his face with his calloused hands. "Looks like the start of another wonderful day…" he muttered to himself.
"Of course it is!" sounded the peppy voice of Isshin Kurosaki from down the hall as he bounded into the living room where Toushirou was still hunched over his knees.
"Good morning, Isshin…" he replied, stifling a yawn with his hand.
Isshin came to sit next to the young captain and lounged back against the back of the couch. "So, how did you sleep?"
Toushirou rolled his eyes upward to keep them open and replied softly, "I've slept better…"
Isshin laughed out loud and smacked him on the back, "That bad huh? You know, I have some medication you could take for that. If you want me to go get it I can."
Toushirou shook his head and rubbed his temples, "Thank you, but I think I can take care of it on my own. This isn't the first time that I have woken after only a few hours of sleep. I'll be fine."
Isshin stood and retreated into the kitchen where Yuzu had already begun breakfast. Toushirou was ready to rise up from his place on the couch when he felt the sudden drop of weight next to him on the couch. He wondered who it was but was too lazy to even turn his head, choosing instead to read the spiritual energy surrounding them. "Morning, Karin," he said with as little effort as he could.
All he heard in response was a groan followed by a long sigh. "You too?" he asked.
He saw her nod out of her peripheral vision as he sighed in response. "We're useless," she said to him stretching her arms wide before falling backwards, her head resting against his shoulder.
He rolled his eyes and yawning said, "Speak for yourself. I am quite useful where I come from," as he shoved her off with his left hand.
She snickered and punched his shoulder, "Yeah, but that's only where you come from…"
Toushirou decided to let the comment slide, as he had not the energy to fuel this futile argument. Rising from his seat, he walked over to the kitchen, pouring himself a large cup of very strong, black coffee that he had taken a liking to the last time he came to the World of the Living. Downing a large portion of it in one gulp he reseated himself on the couch. Karin reached over and grabbed the coffee out of his hand and took a large sip of it, inhaling the rich scent of it, before replacing it back in his waiting hand that never moved from the position it was in previously holding the cup. There was a moment of silence before Toushirou broke it saying, "Go get your own, you mooch."
She let out a giggle and replied, "No, I would down the whole pot in a matter of minutes. Dad would get mad."
Toushirou allowed a stifled laugh to escape his lips as he pictured the girl drinking large gulps of coffee directly from the pot itself. Now THAT is an entertaining thought…
He finally finished of the cup and rose, placing it in the sink across the kitchen. Stretching his arms above his head he walked to the bathroom to relieve himself. Upon entering the bathroom, he noticed that there was a baggy with essentials inside bearing his name on the label. He emptied the bag onto the counter, sifting through the razor, floss, nail clippers, hair gel, and deodorant to find his toothbrush. Squeezing a generous amount of paste onto the bristles and coated it with water before shoving it into his mouth and beginning the three minute task of cleaning his teeth. There was a knock at the door before Ichigo walked in, throwing a towel onto the rack and starting the water in the shower. "Morning Hitsugaya," he said as he removed his shirt and got his stuff together for his shower.
Toushirou grunted in reply with his mouth full of toothpaste. Spitting it into the sink rinsed his brush off and cupped a handful of water, swishing it around in his mouth before spitting it neatly into the sink and wiping his mouth with a towel. Grabbing his deodorant, he applied a generous amount under each arm and pulled his own special bottle of refreshing body out of the bag. "Do you want the shower when I'm done?" Ichigo asked as he stepped into the steaming hot shower. "If you do then I'll save you some hot water, if not I'm using it."
Toushirou grinned knowingly, "That's okay. You probably need it a lot more than I do this morning."
Ichigo grinned inside the shower, as he lathered his upper body up with soap, and muttered just loud enough for the young captain to hear, "That I do…"
Toushirou pushed all of his stuff back into the bag and stashed it away in the cabinet under the sink. As he exited the bathroom he noticed that the house was very quiet. He walked into the kitchen and noticed a note on the counter in from Isshin.
Toushirou and Karin: Yuzu and I have gone to the pharmacy to restock my cabinets in the clinic then we will be picking up lunch at the Tokyo Express Noodle House for all of you. We should return in a few hours. Ichigo and Rukia are going out to the movies and to take her shopping. No telling how long they'll be. If there is any problem, call my cell. The number is on the refrigerator. Take care. –Isshin
Sighing, Toushirou took this time to fall back onto the couch. As soon as he began to doze, he felt a sharp weight hit him in the chest. Grunting, he opened his eyes to the hand of Karin Kurosaki pressed firmly against the center of his chest, her short but thin fingers splayed evenly against the interior of his pectoral muscles. "What the hell was that for?" he questioned the disheveled woman in front of him.
She snickered and removed her hand, letting it fall onto the outside of his left thigh directly above his knee where it lay limply. "Just wanted to let you know that I was going to Urahara's Shop to train. I was just seeing if you wanted to come."
He turned his head and popped his neck, leaning forward and stretching his back. "Sure, why not."
She smiled and patted his knee before standing and offering her hand to help him up. Grasping her wrist, he accepted the offer and stood, stretching again against the uncomfortable gigai. Heading to the door, he toed himself into his shoes before following her out. After she locked the door behind her, she pulled to the side to allow him to walk beside her. He noticed that she had changed her clothing to black cloth athletic pants and a simple black tank top that scooped way too low to be considered decent in his opinion. The lace that edged along the sweetheart top of it didn't succeed in making it seem anymore innocent and cute and he found himself fighting to not glance over every few moments.
As they came upon Urahara's Shop, Toushirou felt a sense of ease come upon him as he realized he could truly distract himself from everything here. As they made their way inside, the rest of their comrades greeted them. Rangiku and Renji, doubtless, were still unconscious somewhere. So they passed them all and made their way down to the training room.
Upon entering the large wasteland of a training room, Karin popped a soul pill into her mouth as Toushirou watched from afar. Upon swallowing it, the telltale energy surrounded her as her soul was wrenched from her body in a cloud of lightning. As her human body dropped to the ground, in its place stood a young woman wearing a black hamaka with a red sash around her waist and a sword with a flaming red hilt on her back. Her hair was held back, braided down her back with a crimson red ribbon woven into it, her red chunks of hair plastered to the side by some unknown sealant. Out of what appeared to be nowhere, Kisuke Urahara appeared. Coming about ten paces in front of Karin, he unsheathed his zanpakuto, the pink glow evident almost immediately. As if on cue, Karin turned and slowly unsheathed her own zanpakuto, revealing a shining, curved silver sword with a flaming red hilt bearing a bright red tassel on the grip. The sword was curved and appeared as a standard katana but bathed in a soft red glow from her spiritual energy.
Urahara took his fighting stance and ordered, "Call out your zanpakuto!"
Pulling her sword across her body to hold it with her left palm up, she grabbed the hilt with both hands and drew her left hand from the hilt to the tip of the blade as she chanted, "Flames of hell rise from the depths! Flare, Seika!
Toushirou drew in a breath as he watched as her hand slid across the blade turning it glowing red-hot as it slid. Her blade appeared to glow redder as she got closer to her opponent. As her blade clashed with Urahara's sparks flew in all directions. "Sacred Fire, alright…" Toushirou muttered to himself.
The two sparred back and forth, blades clashing in a metallic symphony for a good hour. Finally, Urahara stopped and asked, "Do you think you're ready? I think that today is the day you. You have had plenty of practice and training. I would be surprised if you couldn't achieve it now. C'mon. Give it a shot!"
Toushirou watched as she visibly drew in a deep breath and held her sword in her right hand by the hilt and pointed it outwards in front of her. She then gripped her right wrist with her left hand and closed her eyes. She's not…
He let out an audible gasp as she began to chant that fateful word that struck fear in the hearts of all Soul Reapers, "Bankai…"
As soon as the words left her mouth, her entire body was engulfed in her red spirit energy, whirling around her like a violent tornado. Slowly, it began to concentrate itself in her sword as the zanpakuto itself transformed into a long, black blade that burst into flames. Her hamaka became bright red and split into a sleeveless and backless shihakusho like that he had seen Soifon and Yoruichi wear previously. Red leather gauntlets that concealed the entire forearm to the elbow suddenly covered both of her arms. Urahara's eyes grew wide and, filled with awe, directed her, "Call it to attack!"
At his words, she recited her chant and flung her sword forward, "Fire of heaven rain upon! Flare and Consume! Sheika Arashi!"
Suddenly, as she flung her sword forward, the flames that were surrounding it became a whip-like projectile and wrapped around Urahara's sword, melting the blade to nothing. After the initial attack, the whip retreated back into the blade as the fire returned to the zanpakuto.
For a moment she just stood there, wide-eyed and frozen, holding the flaming blade in her hands. She looked from the zanpakuto to Urahara then back to her zanpakuto as if she had just killed someone. Urahara stood there for a moment and collected his thoughts. "Damn, Karin! You have a Fire Bankai! I haven't seen one of those in a long time. And I have never seen one with your ability. I wonder what else it can do…Wow…to melt an opponent's zanpakuto! I have never seen that before! This is big, Karin. Very big…"
Karin remained still, but slowly turned her flame-covered blade in her hand, observing all there was to see about it. The look of awe on her face was priceless. Slowly, Toushirou began to walk down to see her, noticing, with great surprise, the large black dragon tattoo that wove down her spine, spitting flames as it went. As he got close enough, he reached out and ran his tan fingers over it, watching her shudder under his touch. The closer he looked he realized that the tattoo was a fresh brand, burned into her skin, still hot to the touch. "Sacred Fire Storm, huh?" he muttered softly for her ears alone.
She closed her eyes as he continued to run his fingers along the searing pain in her back. "What is it?" she asked him, letting her flaming blade fall to her side and rest the tip in the sand.
"A black dragon branded into your skin along your spine…" he managed to breathe out in his amazement, Finally resting his hand on the head of the dragon at the base of her spine, directly above her tailbone.
She drew in her breath slightly at the unfamiliar touch, but relaxed after a moment, feeling the coolness of his fingers resting lightly on her still burning flesh. Ask he started to pull back, she whimpered slightly. "Please don't…it's so hot…and your hands…"
Understanding the message, Toushirou placed a hang flat on her back, "Where does it hurt?"
She replied, "Below my ribs…"
Sliding his hand to the spot she directed, he flattened it over the stinging skin and concentrated his spirit energy. She gasped at the sudden cold bite of the thin layer of ice forming beneath his pulsing hand, but soon welcomed the soothing ache that it created.
They stood like this for a few moments before she finally turned slowly to face him, "Thank you," she said glancing down at the hand that was caressing her back with ice, reaching down to softly stroke the small piece of ice remaining in the palm.
She stroked it until it had all melted and she was touching just cold, wet skin with her fingertips. Slowly, their eyes met and locked together in a quiet stare. Her onyx orbs explored his jade ones as if trying to solve a puzzle. Neither realized how much time passed, but it didn't really matter either. The stare was suddenly broken when her body doubled over transformed back into her normal Soul Reaper hamaka and zanpakuto. The transition brought her to her knees, breathing heavily. Toushirou immediately met her on his knees too, allowing his dark jeans to sink into the dense sand, "Are you okay?"
She nodded weakly. He pulled her to him and allowed her to bury her head in his shoulder until she could catch her breath properly as he took in the scent of burnt sandalwood incense. He rubbed her back slowly with his right hand, supporting her with his left, "It's okay. It happens to everyone the first time."